9.28.2010

~ New Recipe Alert ~So, I am completely and utterly in love with fall. Not only is the weather great, but the food is amazing! There's honestly nothing better than the scent of fall...I mean, can you think of one? Nah, didn't think so! ;)

I have been craving chili's, soups, stews - really anything and everything that screams fall! (Last week I made a pumpkin and apple bisque that was dEE-lish!!) But, this week I really wanted to do something sweet...and what's more mouthwatering than Bread Pudding?

Uh, maybe APPLE BREAD PUDDING!

Here's the recipe I came up with:{Adapted from Emeril Lagasse's recipe found here.}

6 cups or 1 loaf of Apple Fritter Bread, cubed{I found this in my Walmart's bakery section, but cinnamon raisin bread would work just as well!}2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cubed1 cup of White Raisins2 cups of Heavy Cream1 cup of Milk (whichever % you have on hand)1 cup of Apple Juice4 Large Eggs1 cup of Light Brown Sugar2 tbsp of Unsalted Butter, melted1 tsp of Vanilla Extract1/2 tsp of Apple Pie Spice1/2 tsp of Salt

Whipped Cream and Toasted Walnuts{Toppings}

In a large bowl, beat eggs - add cream, milk, juice, sugar, vanilla, spices and salt - mix well - add bread, apples and raisins - pour into a greased baking dish and cover with plastic wrap - place in refrigerator until bread has soaked up most of liquid (30 mins- 1 hour).Preheat oven to 350 - when it comes to temperature, remove plastic wrap and place your dish in the center of your oven - bake for 1 hour, or until the top is brown and the center has set.{Remember, if you use your convection setting the baking time will need to decrease. I'd start checking after about 40 mins.}Let the pudding cool for about 10 mins before serving. Top with a fresh dollop of whip cream and toasted walnuts.

This recipe is perfect for setting a fall mood at any dinner's end and is even elegant enough to serve at your holiday get-togethers!

{Tip: For a more Christmas feel, replace white raisins with dried cranberries and toasted walnuts with sugared pecans!!}

9.26.2010

A gorgeous couple tied the knot about 20 minutes south of Charleston,SC Saturday on the romantic Seabrook Island. The wedding theme was non-other than local famed sweetgrass...even the boutonnieres were sweetgrass flowers! How adorable, right?

With sweetgrass as my inspiration, I came up with the following design:

This Charleston Style Pound cake was filled with alternating White Chocolate Ganache and Lemon Curd with sliced Fresh Strawberries. The entire cake was done in Vanilla Buttercream and I went with ivory, cream and sand for the coloring. The bottom single tier was done in a basket weave piping to mimic sweetgrass baskets. The top three tiers were done in a Martha Stewart "fan" design chosen by the bride.

9.18.2010

A few months ago I met with a sweet couple from Ohio who were in search of the perfect southern touches for their wedding. They had attended a friend's wedding in Charleston, SC a year ago and fell in love with the area and it's lifestyle. After some consideration, they decided to have a destination wedding- southern style!

Many Charlestonian elements were incorporated throughout the wedding and the one which inspired my cake design was the intricate wrought iron gates found throughout the city. Here's the picture I based my design on:

Using my favorite parts of this gate, I broke it up a bit and used one element per tier. This is what I came up: Simple yet designed!

{The black & white picture shows the details a little better...}This is my Charleston Style Pound cake with a Fresh Strawberry Preserve filling and covered in Vanilla Buttercream. The detail work was also done in buttercream and accented with fresh hydrangeas.

9.16.2010

Sweet Amelia came to me a few weeks ago after church to tell me her vision for the perfect birthday cake. {Her mom told me she has been planning this birthday for months!} Poka dots and flowers in pastel blue, purple and pink is what she wanted...and here's what I came up with:

This is my Vanilla Bean cake with a Milk Chocolate Ganache filling and covered in Vanilla Buttercream. All decorations are made of my handmade Marshmallow Fondant.

9.14.2010

Yesterday was the 60th Birthday of an architect who also has a love for designer watches. With his collection in the double digits, his co-workers thought it would be perfect to have his cake in the shape of one of his favorites...and I had to agree!

This is my Charleston Style Pound cake with Vanilla Buttercream and a custom "Banana Pudding" filling. I dusted edible silver shimmer and glitter all over to give a more platinum effect. I also tinted the clock's arms steel blue- which is something a lot of the birthday boy's watches are adorned with.

I loved this project!! I always have fun doing the ever-so-popular poka dot cakes, but there's just something about going out of the comfort zone and doing something challenging that I just can't get enough of...HAPPY 60th, Steve!

Hi ... I'm Jade and I'm addicted to baking!

About Sweet Baby Mason James

I am first and foremost a momma to my energetic 4 ear old son, Mason James, and my new baby girl, Alice Christine and wifey to my awesome hubby {who is, by the way, the best taste-tester a girl could ask for!} But, I'm also a classically trained chef who fell in love with the art of cake design...and just so happens to have a MASSIVE sweet tooth! sweet babies. a cupcake company was born from that passion and has graced many special occasion dessert tables including weddings all over SC. This blog is an outlet for me to share tips, recipes, pictures and party ideas. So, come join me on this wild and {sometimes} sweet ride I like to call life!

About sweet babies. a cupcake company

I've built my company on the belief that everyone deserves a "moment" now and again...and Gourmet Cupcakes are perfect for that! They are scratch made using the freshest ingredients found in the area, including whole milk and cream, real butter and vanilla, as well as ripe fruit, Ghirardelli chocolate and imported coffee. Each cupcake is made especially for you and your event and can be customized to fit any theme (including flavor.) My gourmet cupcakes are sold by the dozen. Full menu and pricing can be found here. Place orders for South Carolina weddings, birthdays, showers and other special occasions at sweetbabymasonjames@gmail.com. My awesome treats can also be ordered and shipped all over the US from HERE.